DOCSLIB.ORG

Bulletin of the Veteran Car Club of South Australia, Inc

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Bulletin of the Veteran Car Club of South Australia, Inc Bulletin of the Veteran Car Club of South Australia, Inc. www.vccsa.org.au Vol. 7, No. 8 – April 2013 Chairman: Howard Filtness 8272 0594 Treasurer: Tim Rettig 8338 2590 Secretary: David Chantrell 8345 0665 Rallymaster: Phil Keane 8277 2468 Committee: Peter Allen 8353 3438 Neil Francis 8373 4992 Terry Parker 8331 3445 Public Officer Dudley Pinnock 8379 2441 Address for Correspondence: P.O.Box 193, Unley Business Centre, Unley 5061 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vccsa.org.au Bulletin editor : Tony Beaven 0407 716 162 [email protected] Visit to Kapara Nursing Home (Report last month) Meetings The Club holds informal gatherings at 8pm on the perhaps the rest of his vast collection of Veteran first Wednesday of each month, except January, at cars and parts. the Colonel Light Gardens RSL, enter off Dorset Wednesday 1 st May. Anecdotes, photos and tall Ave. Assemble at 7.30 for a pre-meeting chat. The stories from what is promising to be a terrific only formal club meeting is the Annual General weekend rally based at Nurioopta. Any input and Meeting, held on the first Wednesday in July each photos from participants will be more than year. welcome. Wednesday 3 rd April. We have been promised a Wednesday 5 th June. Rob Elliott will be showing very interesting evening of entertainment by pictures and telling us about the wonderful car Julian McNeil talking about his Argyll and museums that he has visited in the U.S.. Wednesday 4 th July. Will be our AGM. Upcoming events Friday 12 th to Sunday 14 th Our annual weekend rally, to be held in and around Nuriootpa, all cabins in April 2013 the caravan park on hold for us, just mention the Veteran Car Club of SA, be quick, they are filling fast. Get your rally entries in now please. Routes are for all veteran vehicles. So don’t hesitate, enter that veteran car or motor cycle! The more the merrier!!! Sunday 12 th May A run to the Southern Vales. Meet in the car park at Coles Blackwood 9.30am for a 10am start. More information next month. Bulletin April 2013 Page 1 From the Chairman I feared it might come back to bite me, and it did. Last month I made mention in my report that, being naturally clumsy, I had broken my foot just prior to our Annual Rally, and this year would try to avoid missing the rally again. It never pays to tempt fate, and this year Dianne has ended up with a broken leg, but if all goes well, we shall be on the Barossa Rally in Nigel the Napier to take part in the fun. It seems a moonboot will be our fashion accessory once again, albeit on another foot. As I write this, the closing date for receiving rally entries has arrived, and a very healthy list of entrants it is. We still have many interstate guests joining us, and I am confident our Club will make them very welcome. The Rally Committee have again excelled themselves, and the itinerary is not only very different to last years but should give us a glimpse of parts of this lovely wine/tourist region that even some of the locals haven’t seen. This coming Wednesday, we look forward to learning a little more about one of the Club cars and the Company that built it. Julian McNeil has offered to entertain us with a presentation about his Argyll, another of the more rare cars in our Club register, and the product of a Glasgow company. It should be a very interesting and enlightening evening. Elsewhere in this issue, there will be a report from our Secretary. I would ask each of you to read it and give it a great deal of consideration. Our Rally Secretary Dianne will also have a report, the last before the big event. At this stage all we can hope for is fine weather and a trouble-free run. Our unofficial Club photographer Tony Beaven will have facilities set up in his cabin to download photographs from cameras, which could end up being used for our May Club presentation or in our magazine. If you take a picture that shows something of interest that you would like to share with other rally-goers, I’m sure he would be delighted to accept it whilst still at the event. I look forward to seeing you at the rally. Happy Veteran Motoring, Howard From the Secretary Historic Registration Update The Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure are now clamping down tightly on our “Historic Registration” Scheme assuring us it is run by the rules. The VCCSA is fine as we have been operating correctly since the inception of the club. New issuing certificates have been received for our four Issuing Officers. Just as a reminder in case you have forgotten, these are Peter Allen, Howard Filtness, Ray Mossop and Julian McNeil. Please do not hesitate to see any of these four members to answer your questions or queries regarding the scheme. It goes without saying to remember to fill in you Log Book every time you take your historically registered vehicle on the road. Statutory Declarations are now mandatory for any renewal with the club and are readily available from either the Federation website or the VCCSA. AVCCA Update As mentioned a while ago the VCCSA committee assessed our involvement with the 2014 National 1 & 2 Cylinder Rally to be held at Robe. Although the VCCSA has previously been denied membership to the AVCCA, a while ago we decided that our veteran vehicles are far more important than the politics; the VCCSA has jumped on board being co-organisers. However, your committee is still perusing membership to the AVCCA and a letter was sent this month to the current President Mr John Wood once again outlining our desire. On behalf of our members your committee continues to seek membership for 2 reasons. Firstly as the premier veteran vehicle club in SA we would like to be included in all events. Secondly, and possibly more importantly for our members, is to seek inclusion of all non-AVCCA veteran vehicles in the register. We see this as a huge step forward for owners of all veteran vehicles Australia wide and can only be a good thing for the movement. We will wait and see the reply to our letter. Bulletin April 2013 Page 2 Future of the “Bay to Birdwood” Run The committee has sent a letter to the committee with our thoughts on this request. As mentioned last month we are not privy to the many commercial, marketing and government agreements and contracts that seem to be in place, but the VCCSA has at least outlined a 3 run proposal that we feel could work. Our suggestion is that the B2B be broken into 3 yearly runs. The first is strictly for veteran and vintage vehicles only, being a smaller group of probably around 120 cars or so, they could easily negotiate the current Chain of Ponds route and wouldn’t require special road closures. The second run for 1931-1955 vehicles and the third run is the “Bay to Birdwood Classic”. The second and third runs can be organised exactly like the profitable “Classic” run and use the SE Freeway as this seems to be the current direction. The benefit of our proposal is that the veteran and vintage vehicles with similar performance and horsepower would be segregated into our own run and we have no doubt we would cope easily with our own group. As with the AVCCA letter, we can only wait and see, and hope that our suggestions are taken on board and hopefully implemented in some measure. Position of VCCSA Secretary I formally notified the committee at our last meeting that I will not be re-standing for of role of Secretary giving the committee 3 months to seek a replacement. The club is in great shape with about 115 members, and now needs another person to step forward and take on a role within the organising of the club. Please give this some thought and do not think that “somebody” else will do it. If anybody has any thoughts for a volunteer or any questions about the role please do not hesitate to come and see me. Kind Regards, David Chantrell Rally Secretary’s Report At the time of going to press, we have 45 entries for the Barossa Rally. Of these, we have 9 from interstate – 3 from Victoria, 3 from New South Wales, 2 from Queensland and 1 from Western Australia. We nearly had an entry from Tasmania, but their vehicle failed in Canberra, and they have returned home. We also have 3 other interstate entries, all from Victoria and all Club members. We also have 2 other South Australian non-Club members coming, so it looks like being a good rally and an interesting mix of vehicles. We are also very lucky to have our own Chris Whittall acting as “tail-end Charlie” in his back-up mobile garage. Thank you Chris. The Club really appreciates your input. Now about the broken leg. We arrived in Canberra on the Saturday and had a nice dinner with friends from Tasmania, then saw some of the celebrations happening around Canberra for their 100 th birthday. We went to the welcome function on the Sunday night and met up with friends old and new – a very pleasant evening. On day 1, the Monday, we set off for the display day at the National Museum.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Guide £175,000 ● Enclosed Garden
    sales@marcalle n.co.uk ● www.marcallen.co.uk ● Entrance Hall 4 High Street ● Sitting Room Little Bedwyn, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 3JJ ● Kitchen ● An individual character property situated in the village Bedroom of Little Bedwyn. ● Bathroom ● Garage Guide £175,000 ● Enclosed Garden 110 High Street, Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 0NB Tel: 01488 685 353 Fax: 01488 680844 Description Steps gives access to The property has great potential to extend and improve, subject to the usual consents of course. The Bedroom accommodation currently includes a separate entr ance 11' 7" (3.53m) x 9' 10" (3m). Exposed beams. Cupboard hall, a kitchen and a bathroom on the ground floor. There with hot water tank and immersion heater. is a good sized sitting room with a door to the garden . Steps (not stairs) lead to the first floor mezzanine At the front of the property is bedroom which has exposed beams. Outside there is an An area of grass with a pathway to the house and box enclosed garden with space to the side. hedging. Little Bedwyn Little Bedwyn is a village the River Dun in Wiltshire, about 3 miles south-west of the market town of Hungerford in neighbouring Berkshire . It is home to the well known Harrow public house and the Kennet and Avon Canal and the Reading to Taunton railway line follow the Dun and pass through the village. The railway can be joined at Great Bedwyn or Hungerford and the M4 motorway can be joined at Junctions 14 or 15. Directions From our office turn right down the High Street, left at The Bear Hotel and continue towards Froxfield.
    [Show full text]
  • Desk-Based Heritage Assessment Report
    Desk-Based Heritage Assessment Report Project Ref: 16/2575 Client: Dorothy House Hospice Care 15 August 2016 Bristol & West Archaeology Planning Authority: Wiltshire County Council National Grid Reference Centred on: NGR ST 8248 6083 Author: Emma Whitcombe Report Status: Final Issue Date: 07/09/2016 BWA Ref: 16/2575 © Bristol & West Archaeology Limited No part of this report is to be copied in any way without prior written consent. © Ordnance Survey maps reproduced under the Open Government Licence (OGL). Parkfield House, Parkfield, Pucklechurch, Bristol BS16 9NS. Tel. 0117 9372450. Email [email protected] ©Bristol and West Archaeology , Desk-Based Heritage Assessment [Title] Desk-Based Heritage Assessment Report CONTENTS NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vi 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 1 2 BASELINE SURVEY ............................................................................................... 3 3 IMPACT STATEMENT ........................................................................................... 9 4 CONCLUSIONS ..................................................................................................... 13 5 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................ 14 FIGURES Figure 1: Study area with the approximate boundary outlined in red............................ 16 Figure 2: Detail of the study area. ................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 'Above & Below Hungerford'
    West Berkshire Countryside Society West Berkshire Countryside Society was formed in January 2012 by merging four long-established environmental groups. These were The Friends of the Pang, Kennet & Lambourn Valleys , The Bucklebury Heathland Conservation Group, The Pang Valley Conservation Volunteers and The Pang Valley Barn Owl Group. Our remit is to continue their work of promoting and improving the landscape of West Berkshire by practical conservation work and by introducing people to the countryside, its work, history and wildlife, through the medium of talks, visits and conducted walks. Members of West Berkshire Countryside Society currently pay a £15 annual subscription for individual and family membership to provide a financial resource. Those members who wish to, make up volunteer working parties to undertake practical conservation tasks. Non-members are very welcome to join our task groups and conducted walks for which we make no charge. Non-members are also welcome at our talks for which we WEST BERKSHIRE COUNTRYSIDE SOCIETY do make a small charge. If you would like more information about our activities or would like to join us and & help with our work, please visit our website: BERKSHIRE GEOCONSERVATION GROUP www.westberkscountryside.org.uk The Berkshire Geoconservation Group The Berkshire Geoconservation Group are a volunteer group which aims to work with local authorities, landowners and the general public to safeguard our special ‘ABOVE & BELOW landscape for future generations and to promote understanding of this its geology and geodiversity. HUNGERFORD’ We designate sites of significance within the county so that these can be conserved and enhanced where appropriate. Over the year we have a regular programme of walks to areas of interest and anyone is most welcome along on these.
    [Show full text]
  • Bath and Return from Hilperton | UK Canal Boating
    UK Canal Boating Telephone : 01395 443545 UK Canal Boating Email : [email protected] Escape with a canal boating holiday! Booking Office : PO Box 57, Budleigh Salterton. Devon. EX9 7ZN. England. Bath and return from Hilperton Cruise this route from : Hilperton View the latest version of this pdf Bath-and-return-from-Hilperton-Cruising-Route.html Cruising Days : 4.00 to 0.00 Cruising Time : 8.00 Total Distance : 23.00 Number of Locks : 2 Number of Tunnels : 0 Number of Aqueducts : 4 Bath has been designated a 'World Heritage City' with a history stretching back to the Roman Baths after which it is named and that can still be visited today. Moorings are available very close to the city centre and Bath is, without doubt, worthy of at least a couple of days of exploration. The medieval town of Bradford on Avon, just an hour from Hilperton, offers a very pleasant stopping point. Weavers' cottages cling to the side of the Avon valley, looking down across the old mills to the 'Broad Ford' on the river that gave the town its name. The splendid Dundas and Avoncliff Aqueducts both take the canal over the River Avon as it follows the river alley between Bradford and Bath. Claverton's pumping station and American Museum may be incongruent with each other but certainly offer to satisfy differing interests! Bath City and the spectacular Pulteney Weir and Bridge. Bath and the surrounding area is brimming with things to see and do. Designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Bath presents some of the finest architectural sights in Europe such as the Royal Crescent, the Circus and Pulteney Bridge, alongside a diverse collection of museums and attractions including the Roman baths, Jane Austen centre and Thermae Bath Spa.
    [Show full text]
  • Bristol Harbour Information for Boaters
    covers_308330.qxd 9/7/18 14:13 Page 3 RST L Information for boaters covers_308330.qxd 9/7/18 14:13 Page 4 SAFE HAVENS IN THE BRISTOL CHANNEL PORTISHEAD QUAYS MARINA & PENARTH QUAYS MARINAS PORTISHEAD Tel: 01275 841941 PENARTH Tel: 02920 705021 ■ Professional, friendly staff on duty 24 hrs ■ Professional, friendly staff on duty 24 hrs ■ Excellent access average HW +/- 4 hours ■ Fully serviced berths within Cardiff Bay ■ Fully serviced berths ■ Controlled access and car parking ■ Full boatyard facilities with lifting up to ■ Full boatyard facilities with lifting up to 35 tonnes 20 tonnes ■ Diesel & Petrol available ■ Diesel & Petrol available ■ Chandlery & workshop facilities ■ Chandlery & workshop facilities ■ Excellent road access - 5 mins from ■ Excellent road access 10 mins from junction 19 - M5plus junction 13 - M4 QUAY offering real ‘added value’ for our customers FREE periods of hard standing for annual berth holders* FREE reciprocal berthing between all Quay Marinas for all annual berth holders 50% discounted visitor berthing at 70 TransEurope marinas for berth holders 50% upto 50% off standard tariff for winter berthing 20% 20% off standard insurance rates through Quay Marinas scheme with Towergate Insurance. 15% 15% first year berth discount for boats sold into our marinas by our on-site brokers. * not applicable to Bangor Marina www.quaymarinas.com editorial_308330.qxd 9/7/18 10:47 Page 1 Marine engineering, Servicing, General boat maintenance, Engine sales and installs, Marine salvage Undercover boat storage, craning facilities
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Winsley Parish Council CONFIRMED Minutes of The
    Minutes confirmed at the meeting on 5 June 2018 Winsley Parish Council CONFIRMED Minutes of the meeting held on 1 May 2018 8.15pm, Winsley Village Hall Parish Councillors Present: Ed Gilby (Chair), Jane Baddeley, Ian Berry, Robin Davies, David Elstone, Zoe Elstone, Johnny Kidney, Linda Ladner, Richard Warren Apologies: John Barnes, Paul Fitzpatrick In attendance: Selina Jobson (Parish Clerk) Members of the Public: One 1. Declarations of Interest Cllr Gilby declared an interest in planning application 18/03666/FUL 37A Tyning Road, BA15 2JL. Cllr Kidney declared that he knew the planning consultant for planning application 18/02927/FUL Conkwell Farm, BA15 2JG. 2. Minutes of Meeting The minutes of the meeting held on 3 April 2018 were signed as a true record. 3. Public Participation The applicant of planning application 18/02927/FUL Conkwell Farm attended and it was agreed that any comments would be taken under the relevant planning item. 4. Planning 4.1 The Council considered the following planning applications: • 18/02927/FUL Conkwell Farm, BA15 2JG: Conversion of storage building to residential dwelling, with garage block, landscaping and access works. The owner had offered the opportunity of a site visit and the Planning Advisory Group would visit on Friday 4 May. Comments would then be circulated and agreed via email. The following comments were agreed following the site visit: The applicant is credited with taking an environmentally conscious approach to this development, further ‘recycling’ an extant agricultural building as the basis of the main part of the build. The house and garage are reasonable in size and would have no adverse effect on the Green Belt both in terms of visual amenity and impact on the infrastructure (roads, drainage etc).
    [Show full text]
  • John Ward and the K&A Canal
    BIAS JOURNAL 15 1982 John Ward and the Kennet and Avon Canal: Part 2 Michael Corfield Part one of this paper outlined the role of John Ward up to canal with locks able to take boats of 70 feet length and 7 the granting of the Act of Parliament which authorised the feet beam, or a broad canal with locks of 14 feet width and construction of the Kennet and Avon Canal. In this part the same length. There was strong support tor a narrow the events are described, as recorded by Ward, during canal from Francis Page of Newbury, who imagined the construction and in first years of operation of increased cargoes for his fleet of barges, and from Mr Poore the Canal who thought there would be a more regular serving, Ward wrote on 19 June 1794: The Canal Company, now authorised to cut a Canal from Newbury to Bath, required a seal to put to its official I must request your lordship to suspend your opinion about documents and Ward, ever anxious to see that such large or small canal till you have the best information which we administrative matters were properly seen to, had his brother hope to obtain from Mr (Penine), Mr Jessop, the Duke of make a drawing, ‘which will show London on the one side, Bridgewater and others. The conveyance of goods from London Bristol on the other with a canal and aqueduct and a boat to to Bristol without shifting from boat to boat is the grand object show the connexion the canal forms'.
    [Show full text]
  • Bath and Return from Bradford on Avon | UK Canal Boating
    UK Canal Boating Telephone : 01395 443545 UK Canal Boating Email : [email protected] Escape with a canal boating holiday! Booking Office : PO Box 57, Budleigh Salterton. Devon. EX9 7ZN. England. Bath and return from Bradford on Avon Cruise this route from : Bradford-on-Avon View the latest version of this pdf Bath-and-return-from-Bradford-on-Avon-Cruising-Route.html Cruising Days : 4.00 to 0.00 Cruising Time : 7.25 Total Distance : 19.00 Number of Locks : 2 Number of Tunnels : 4 Number of Aqueducts : 4 A very relaxing easy cruise with only one lock each way, giving you time to chill and explore ! Bath has been designated a 'World Heritage City' with a history stretching back to the Roman Baths after which it is named and that can still be visited today. Moorings are available very close to the city centre and Bath is, without doubt, worthy of at least a couple of days of exploration. The medieval town of Bradford on Avon with its Weavers' cottages clinging to the side of the Avon valley, looking down across the old mills to the 'Broad Ford' on the river that gave the town its name. The splendid Dundas and Avoncliff Aqueducts both take the canal over the River Avon as it follows the river alley between Bradford and Bath. Claverton's pumping station and American Museum may be incongruent with each other but certainly offer to satisfy differing interests! Bath City and the spectacular Pulteney Weir and Bridge. Bath and the surrounding area is brimming with things to see and do.
    [Show full text]
  • Hungerford and Return from Aldermaston | UK Canal Boating
    UK Canal Boating Telephone : 01395 443545 UK Canal Boating Email : [email protected] Escape with a canal boating holiday! Booking Office : PO Box 57, Budleigh Salterton. Devon. EX9 7ZN. England. Hungerford and return from Aldermaston Cruise this route from : Aldermaston View the latest version of this pdf Hungerford-and-return-from-Aldermaston-Cruising-Route.html Cruising Days : 5.00 to 0.00 Cruising Time : 23.25 Total Distance : 36.00 Number of Locks : 42 Number of Tunnels : 0 Number of Aqueducts : 0 Aldermaston wharf is close to the railway station with good connections to Paddington in London, taking 55 minutes from London Paddington , or 13 minutes from Reading railway station. At Aldermaston Wharf is the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Visitor centre, with a picnic area, and serving light refreshments from Easter -Oct. There is also the Butt Inn pub at Aldermaston Wharf, serving real ales and excellent food for all the family. 4 night cruise through the Berkshire countryside through the busy shopping town of Newbury to Hungerford, a pleasant Market town with 18th century buildings. Newbury developed in the Middle Ages as an important cloth town, and the town has managed to retain much of its period charm. The District Museum is one of the most interesting buildings in Newbury built in 1626 as a cloth weaving workshop. The town centre has many shops, pubs and restaurants to choose from. A short bus or taxi ride away is the Living rainforest, which gives you the opportunity to experience rainforest life under glass. The handsome Hungerford Town Bridge gives easy access to the centre of the town which is set out along a wide main street.
    [Show full text]
  • Reading and Return from Bradford on Avon | UK Canal Boating
    UK Canal Boating Telephone : 01395 443545 UK Canal Boating Email : [email protected] Escape with a canal boating holiday! Booking Office : PO Box 57, Budleigh Salterton. Devon. EX9 7ZN. England. Reading and Return from Bradford on Avon Cruise this route from : Bradford-on-Avon View the latest version of this pdf Reading-and-Return-from-Bradford-on-Avon-Cruising-Route.html Cruising Days : 15.00 to 0.00 Cruising Time : 85.00 Total Distance : 125.00 Number of Locks : 182 Number of Tunnels : 2 Number of Aqueducts : 0 Cruise almost the whole length of the Kennet & Avon canal following its picturesque course virtually the entire way to Reading, the number and variety of towns and villages that are visited will give full entertainment for a fortnight return cruise. Make sure that the River levels are not high when proceeding beyond Hungerford. Cruising Notes Day 1 The canal sweeps through undulating woodland and arable farmland past the rural village ofSemington through a series of swing bridges which are something of a hallmark of this section of canal. There are 2 locks at Semington and a swing bridge, it is a very pretty village & best access is just before the lock. Moor up here for the night it is 1 hour cruising from the marina. Day 2 36 locks today which includes the fantastic Caen Hill flight of 29 locks in just 2.25 miles. As well as the many swing bridges around Seend there are 5 locks to navigate, luckily there are plentiful moorings at the ever-popular Seend Cleeve and close by pubs and quiet countryside to please the eye and fill the stomach.
    [Show full text]
  • Wiltshire's Fun Facts • Did You Know Another Series of Poldark Is Being
    Wiltshire’s Fun Facts Did you know another series of Poldark is being filmed this year at Great Chalfield Manor? Other filming includes The White Princess in Lacock and Bradford on Avon and Transformers at Stonehenge. Look out for Wiltshire on your TV/Cinema in 2017! Did you know that Wiltshire has a Grade II Listed Sticke tennis court at Hartham Park, Corsham? Did you know that the Wiltshire Cycleway, Regional Route 20, is 160 miles and takes in some of the county’s most spectacular scenery? It’s best to do in an anti-clockwise direction. There are also two National Cycle Routes passing through South Wiltshire, Numbers 24 and 45. In Cricklade, just off the high street, there is a sign that says “In 1832 on this spot nothing happened!” Wiltshire has some strange named places; Lover (pronounced Lowver), which is famous for its visits by romantics near Valentine’s Day; New Zealand which can be found just off the A3102 south of Lyneham; and Tiddleywink, which is situated just outside Castle Combe. The Kennet & Avon Canal is a total of 87 miles and links London with the Bristol Channel. The Caen Hill Locks are a flight of 29 locks between Rowde and Devizes with a rise of 1 in 44 gradient or 237 feet in 2 miles. Did you know that Salisbury (in 2012) and Chippenham (in 2016) have been awarded purple flag status, meaning that they offer a ‘gold standard’ night life with lower crime and anti-social behaviour? Did you know that Stonehenge attracts over 1.3m people of year? The massive sarsen stones came from Marlborough, 20 miles away, the smaller bluestones from the Preseli Mountains of South Wales, a distance of almost 200 miles.
    [Show full text]
  • Caen Hill Biomanipulation
    AquaticEngineering Working Above Water, On Water & Under Water Case Study : Biomanipulation Curtains - Caen Hill Locks Devizes Client: British Waterways / Canal & River Trust Caen Hill was the last stretch of the Kennet Avon Canal (linking the River Kennet at Newbury and the River Avon at Bath) to be completed, largely because it presented such a formidable obstacle. In all there are 29 locks which rise 237 feet in 2 miles (72 m in 3.2 km) or a 1 in 44 gradient. The locks are in three groups. The lower seven locks are spread over 1.2 km. The next sixteen locks form a steep flight in a straight line up the hillside. Because of the steepness of the terrain, the pounds between these locks are very short. As a result, 15 locks have unusually large sideways-extended pounds to store the water needed to operate them. These pounds were formerly biodiverse and species rich, however due to the increase in turbidity creating pleasure boat traffic and the rapid rise in the carp population throughout the canal network, the pounds ecology had all but expired. High turbidity from increased diesel engine boat traffic has had a detrimental impact of the biodiversity of the Kennet Avon Canal in recent years. In January 2009 the lock pounds were drained down to facilitate fish removal. An abundance of zooplanktivorous cyprinids (silver fish) and a few piscivores (predators) were netted from the pounds, along with turbidity creating carp to 28lb. AquaticEngineering installed a flexible biomanipulation curtain across the mouth of the pounds to prevent the re-entry of fish and hold back the turbidity created by boats & operation of the locks.
    [Show full text]